Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, there is no access to it. One can imagine the disadvantages these children will face when they proceed to secondary level. They are Irish citizens who live in rural communities and attend schools which have provided education services for generations. One such school is in Milford in north Cork and it has no broadband service.

Last week we debated a motion calling on the Government to secure the viability of An Post. However, the Government voted down the motion, even though it was not controversial. The ESB is statutorily required to maintain electricity networks for all communities. The memorandum of understanding with An Post should be changed because the only way of ensuring the security of post offices is by requiring a postal network in every village and community in the country. An Post would then be forced to go after the business that would make post offices viable.

I know the applause machine will not be in the Chamber when I sit down, but I ask the House to consider the points I have made.

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